Following a successful first year for the UK Responsible Fishing Scheme, Seafish is proud to announce that a dedicated website for the scheme is now available at www.seafish.org/rfs.
Featuring a modern and user-friendly design, the website serves as a way for interested parties to find out more about the scheme and also lists all the current vessels that are certified under the scheme.
The scheme was developed to raise standards in the fish catching sector, and was created in response to the needs of the seafood supply chain to demonstrate their commitment to the responsible sourcing of seafood. The need for a dedicated website is testament to how successful and relevant the scheme has been in its first year. Boats that have signed up to the scheme range from large nephrops trawlers in Banff to a small ring netter in Cornwall.
Seafish Development Director, Jon Harman, said: “This is a big step forward for the Responsible Fishing Scheme. We already have 31 vessels fully certified and 68 awaiting final audit after only a year. This website will increase the profile of the scheme and offer concise and clear information on how the scheme operates and how to get involved.”
Based on a Publicly Available Specification from the British Standards Institution (BSi), the Responsible Fishing Scheme is an independent, audited assessment of the application of good practice by a vessel skipper and crew in their fishing operations. It covers four key areas: fishing practices; vessel criteria; crew competence; and environmental considerations.
